Almost every Wednesday night during the summer, a group of approximately 50 musicians tune their instruments, take the stage at the Dan Cotner Amphitheater and continue more than a century of community concert tradition.

For all things Municipal Band, Dr. Dan Cotner serves as the local expert – and with good reason. He played trombone in the band for 77 years, until he retired in 2018 at 96 years old. Along with another longtime band member, Jerry Ford, Cotner offers a wealth of insight into the history of the Municipal Band and how it became the beloved community icon it is today.

The earliest official record of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band dates back to 1918, but it actually formed in the 1880s as a group of amateur musicians. This makes it one of the earliest community bands in the United States.

For the last part of the 19^th century and the first part of the 20^th, the band – then known as Schuchert’s Cornet Band – kept Cape Girardeau’s toes tapping at local events. But a major shift happened with the onset of World War I. The all-male band enlisted in the military together, and all but the youngest and oldest were sent to Europe. The musicians who had been rejected by the Army kept the Municipal Band going through World War I.

One member – a trombonist named Elwood Mills – was killed in action. Famed composer Karl King wrote the “140^th Infantry” march to honor Mills and his comrades, a piece that continues to hold special meaning for the Municipal Band.

The group grew in the decades following World War I. By 1941, a high school senior named Dan Cotner was ready to master a new instrument. His decision to join the band was pretty straightforward; music was in his blood. Several family members played with the group, including an uncle who was president of the Municipal Band when Cotner joined.

The 18-year-old chose the trombone simply because the Municipal Band was short a trombone player. The man who sold Cotner his first horn taught him how to play “America” in one day, and he was soon ready to join the band.

The organization grew steadily over the years and transformed from a collection of volunteers to a group of professional musicians. It was soon in need of a new bandstand. Cotner’s cousin Elmore Kassel, along with Frank Shivelbine, spearheaded fundraising efforts for the construction of the current bandstand in Capaha Park, relocating from their former location in 1957. Years later, the structure is called the Dan Cotner Amphitheater after its longest running musician.

During his time with the Municipal Band, Cotner saw significant changes in the organization’s structure. He fondly remembers a musician who could play “Flight of the Bumblebee” on the tuba. What started as a small group grew to around 50, and in the mid-1960s, women were added to the roster. The first female band member played the oboe, and she’s since been followed by women playing almost every type of instrument.

Today’s Municipal Band is quite diverse in both gender and age. Part of the group’s mission is training future musicians, so several spots are held open each year for the most promising players from area high school bands. These students are mentored by experienced band members, many of whom have played with the group for 30 to 50 years.

According to Cotner and Ford, the band’s investment in young musicians is key to its longevity. High schools throughout the area give the band a base to find up-and-coming musicians. In addition, the Cape Girardeau community is big enough and diverse enough to offer a wide range of players. Most members hail from Cape and Jackson, but some have come from as far as Sikeston and Ste. Genevieve. As for the future of the band, Ford asserts that as long as people love music, they’ll keep playing.

Around 7:30 p.m. some Wednesday evening this summer, grab a lawn chair or blanket and head to the grassy area in front of the Dan Cotner Amphitheater in Capaha Park. Spend an hour lost in rhythm and melody, guided away from worries by the woodwinds and horns playing tunes that have filled the air for decades. Each concert features a guest performer from nearly any genre – folk, jazz, even rock ’n’ roll.

As for Cotner, he’s retired now but hardly slowing down. Even though he’s no longer with the Municipal Band, he’s open to playing again someday. In the meantime, he plays the organ in church almost every Sunday. Regarding his contribution to the community, Ford asserts that if Cotner were to ever leave Cape Girardeau, it would take half a dozen people to replace him – at least.

Get the details on the Municipal Band’s next concert at our Events page.